Solenoid control for pilot valves and the like



April 5, 1960 D. E. GRISWOLD 2,931,233

SOLENOID CONTROL FOR PILOT VALVES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 30, 1954 INVENTOR DAVID E. Gmswou:

ATTORNEYS United States Paten er SOLENOID CONTROL F OR PILOT VALVES AND THE LIKE David E. Griswold, San Marino, Califl, assignor to Donald G. Griswold, Alhambra, Calif.

- Appiication September 30, 1954, Serial No. 459,372

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-104) -'The present invention relates generally to a solenoidoperated actuator and, more particularly, to a solenoidoperated actuator for controlling the operation of a pilot valve or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a solenoid-operated actuator which is substantially noiseless in its operation and relatively free from friction.

Another object is to provide a solenoid-operated actuator including an armature whose movements in opposite directions are cushioned to minimize noise and shock.

A further object is to provide a solenoid-operated actuator in which the friction between its mechanically interconnected parts is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide a solenoid-operated actuator having axially spaced movable parts and wherein such parts are interconnected in a manner to permit self-alignment and limited relative movement between said parts.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of the solenoid unit.

Referring now to the drawing, the solenoid operated actuator comprises in general, a housing H containing a solenoid S of conventional design including transformer plates 1, a coil 2, and a reciprocably operable armature 3 which is adapted through the novel actuating means of the present invention to actuate an arm 4 carried by a shaft 5 extending into the housing H and linked at its outer extremity to'a pilot valve or other device not shown. 7

The housing H comprises a hollow body member 6 having a cylindrical open top portion 7 provided externally with threads 8 for receiving in threaded engagement therewith an internally threaded cap member 9. The cap member 9 is provided with lugs 10 to facilitate theremoval thereof from the body member 6. The solenoid S is mounted upon an inwardly extending rim 11 formed in the upper portion of the body member 6 with the bottom of the transformer plates 1 resting thereon. Stiif metal strips 12 extend transversely across the top of the transformer plates 1 at either end and project outwardly on both sides thereof. The four projections thus formed are secured to the body member 6 by means of four bolts 13 (only two of which are shown) which pass through openings in said projections and are threaded into lugs 14 integrally formed in the rim 11 of the body member 6. The solenoid S is thereby firmly 16 and 17 and connect the coil 2 through a control circuit (not shown) to a suitable source of electricity.

The bottom of the body member 6 of the housing H is provided with a centrally located threaded boss 20 containing a passage 21 extending in substantially axial alignment with the armature 3 of the solenoid S. A rod 22 is mounted in the opening 21 and is adapted to be guided thereby for free axial movement. A bottom cover member 23 threadedly engages the boss 20 and acts to protect the end of the rod- 22 from fouling or otherwise becoming damaged.

The rod 22 is provided with an upper reduced portion 24 forming a shoulder 25. Disposed on the reduced shaft portion 24 and abutting the shoulder 25 is a lower drive washer 26 having an upwardly extending flange 27 around which is disposed a washer 28 of suitable antifriction material such as nylon, or the like. A washer 29 of reduced diameter bears upon the flange 27 above the washer 28 and is in contact with a spacer ring 30 which separates the lower drive washer assembly from a generally similar upper drive washer assembly. The upper drive washer assembly comprises a drive washer 31 having a downwardly extending flange 32 around which is disposed a washer 33 of anti-friction material held loosely in place by means of washer 34 which contacts the flange 32 and the top of spacer ring 30. The entire drive assembly is held in assembled relation between shoulder 25 and a connecting member 35 which threadedly engages the top portion of the reduced portion 24 of the rod 22 and bears against the upper surface of the upper drive washer 31.

The spacer ring 30 is of sufiicient width to provide a clearance between drive Washers 26 and 31 for accommodating a spherical end 4a of the arm 4 between the anti-friction Washers 28 and 33. The anti-friction Washers 28 and 33 are free to rotate on the respective drive Washers and this, plus the substantially point contact with the spherical member 4a, ensures minimum friction during operation of the actuator unit. The arm 4 is fixed to the shaft 5 by means of a threaded pin 4b, the end of which extends through a suitable opening in the shaft 5.

The lower end of the armature 3 of the solenoid S is provided with an integral reduced section 36, which forms a shoulder 37. A washer 38 of rubber or other cushionlike material fits over the reduced section 36 in abutting relationship to the shoulder 37 and is held thereagainst by means of a collar 39, which also fits over the section 36 and is attached thereto by means of a pin 40 which is inserted through registering diametrical openings in said members. The collar 39 is threaded on its outer periphery for engaging a connection sleeve 41, which has corresponding internal threads on the upper portion of its inner surface. It will be noted that the top surface 42 of the sleeve 41 is adapted to fit flush with the top surface of the collar 39-which, together, form abutting surfaces for the lower face of the rubber washer 38. The lower portion of connecting sleeve 41 provides an internal bore 43, which is adapted to loosely receive the connecting member 35, which is secured to rod 22. An internal flange 44 within the bore 43 in cooperation with an external flange 45 on the connecting member 35 de fines the limit of upward extension of the connecting member 35 into the sleeve 41 and a retaining member 46 threadedly engaging the lower end of sleeve 41 around the external periphery thereof retains the connecting member 35 within the bore 43. An O-ring 47 is provided between the flange 44 of the sleeve and the top surface of the flange 45 of the connecting member 35 and another O-ring 48 is provided between the bottom sur face of the flange 45 and the retaining member 46. The clearance between the outer peripheral surfaces of theconnecting member 35 and the surfaces formed by the 1 Patented Apr. 5, 1960 inner bore 43 of the sleeve 41 and by the axial opening in the retaining ring 46 is such that all contact between these parts during normal operation of the device is prevented by the provision of the O-rings 47 and 48. it will be seen that the connecting member 35 is allowed a slight degree of movement in all directions relative to the sleeve 4-1 and retaining member 46 to the extent of the compressibility of the O-rings 4'7 and 48, and that this structure thus, in effect, forms a noiseless universal joint which compensates for any axial misalignment of the solenoid armature 3 and rod 22 during operation of the actuator unit.

Encircling the armature 3 is a compression spring 50 with its upper end resting against the bottom of transformer plates 1 and its lower portion consisting of consecutively smaller convolutions, the lowest of. which rests in an annular recess 51 provided on the top outer surface of the upper drive washer 31. The, spring 54) normally tends to urge the armature 3 and the rod 22 downwardly to the position shown in the accompanying figure.

A circular recess 5'2 is provided within the thickened flat bottom 53 of the housing H for the reception of an annular bumper member of rubber or other cushionlike material, which surrounds the rod 22 and is held in place by shoulders 55 at the top of the recess 52. In the downward position of the actuator assembly as shown in the figure, the bottom portion of the lower drive washer 26 is adapted to contact the top surface of the bumper member 5 On the other hand when the solenoid coil is energized and the actuator assembly moves upwardly to the top limit of its travel, the top cushion or bumper washer 33 carried by the moving assembly is adapted to abut an extension 56 on the bottom of transformer plates. it of the solenoid S.

in operation it will be seen that when current is supplied to the solenoid coil 2 through the wires 19 the armature 3 overcoming the force of the spring 5b is lifted and in turn lifts the rod 22, which is guided for substantially vertical upward movement by the passageway 21 at the bottom of the housing H. The impact of this upward movement is absorbed by the O-rings 47 and 48 and by the rubber washer or bumper 33, striking the lower abutting portion 55 of the transformer plates 1. The operation accordingly is noiseless and any slight misalignment of armature 3 and rod 22 is compensated for by the universal joint action of the connecting elements between these members. When the rod 22 is raised, the lower drive washer situated thereon acts upon the spherical member 4a to raise the arm which rotates the drive shaft 5, thereby operating the pilot valve or other device adapted to be driven by the shaft 5. When the solenoid S is deenergized, the spring 5% returns the rod 22 to the position shown in the drawing and drive washer acts upon the spherical downward, thereby counter-rotating the shaft 5 to its original position. The impact of the downward movement is absorbed by O-rings t7 and and by the lower drive washer 26 coming to rest against the bumper member 54 Since the sphe 'cal member 4a is at all times in contact with the anti-f1 vide for relatively frictionless lateral movementof the spherical member in v respect to the surfaces thereof and may also freely rotate on the respective drive members about the rod 22 during the operation of the unit, there is relatively little friction between the mechanically moving parts.

it will thus be seen that I have provided a solenoid control for pilot valves and the like, which will be substantially noiseless in operation and which provides for flexible and relatively frictionless movement of the driving elements thereof. it should be understood that various changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of elements therein without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

member 4a to force arm 4 i-ction washers 28 and 33, which pro-' I claim:

' l. A solenoid device, comprising: a housing; a solenoid fixedly mounted in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil, said housing having a passage axially aligned with said coil; a rod slidably mounted for guided movement in said passage in said housing in substantially axial ali nment with said armature and adapted to move therewith; means within said housing flexibly connecting said armature to said rod to provide limited universal movement of said rod with respect to said armature; and means for cushioning the movement of the armature and rod at the extremities of travel of the assembly.

2. A solenoid device, comprising: a housing; a solenoid in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil, said housing having a passage axially aligned with said coil; a rod slidably mounted for guided movement in said passage in said housing in substantially axial alignment with said armature and adapted to move therewith; and means within said housing flexibly connecting said armature to said rod, said means including a pair of resilient members arranged to provide limited universal movement of said rod with respect to said armature.

3. A solenoid-controlled actuator, comprising: a housing; a solenoid fixedly mounted in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil said housing having a passage axially aligned with said coil; a rod slidably mounted for guided movement in said passage in said housing in substantially axial alignment with said armature and adapted to move therewith; means within said housing flexibly connecting said armature to said rod; a shaft extending through said housing and rotatably mounted therein, said shaft being spaced from said slida-bly mounted rod andsubstantially normal to a plane containing the axis of said slidably mounted rod; an actuator arm connected to said rotatable shaft; means mounted on said slidably movable rod adapted to engage a portion of said actuator arm whereupon said rotatable shaft may be rotated by said solenoid; and resilient means in said housing adapted to cushion the movement of said armature and rodassembly at a limit of travel thereof.

4. A solenoid-controlled actuator, comprising: a housing; a solenoid in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil; a rod slid-ably mounted in said housing in substantially axial alignment with said armature and adapted to move therewith; means flexibly connecting said armature to said rod; a shaft extending through said housing and rotatably mounted therein, said shaft being spaced from said slidably mounted rod and substantially normal to a plane containing the axis of said slidably mounted rod; an arm terminating in a spherical-shaped element connected to said rotatable shaft; 21 pair of spaced annular members mounted on said slidable rod for receiving said spherical-shaped element therebetween, said annular members having anti-friction means thereon between the surface thereof and the points of contact with said spherical shaped element, whereby said solenoid is adapted to rotate said rotatable shaft in a relatively frictionless manner.

5, in a solenoid-controlled device, the combination comprising: a housing; a solenoid in said housing including' a coil and an armature actuated by said coil; a rod slidably mounted in said housing; a sleeve having one end thereof connected with said armature; means flexibly connecting the other end of said sleeve with one end of said rod; a pair of members mounted on said rod in spaced apart relation and adapted to receive therebetween a portion of an element to be actuated thereby; and spring means arranged to normally urge said rod in a direction away from said coil.

6. The device of claim 5 in which resilient members are provided both above said sleeve and below said pair of members, said resilient members being adapted to cushion the impact at the upper and lower extremities of movement of the armature-rod assembly.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said pair of members have anti-friction washers rotatably mounted thereon between the surfaces thereof and said portion of the element to be actuated.

8. In a solenoid operated device, the combination comprising: a housing; a solenoid in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil; a rod slidably mounted in said housing; a sleeve having one end thereof connected with said armature; means flexibly connecting said sleeve with one end of said rod, said rod having a shoulder formed thereon; a pair of opposed annular drive members mounted on said rod between said shoulder and said sleeve, each of said drive members having a circular flange extending from the central portion thereof toward the opposite drive member; an antifriction washer rotatably mounted on each of said drive members around the circular flange thereof; means mounted on said rod between said drive members for spacing said drive members and for loosely retaining said anti-friction washers on said drive members; and anciement adapted to be actuated by said pair of drive members, said element having a spherical portion secured between said pair of drive members and in contact with said anti-friction washers.

9. A solenoid-controlled actuator comprising: a housing; a solenoid in said housing including a coil and an armature actuated by said coil; a rod slidably mounted in said housing in substantially axial alignment with said armature and adapted to move therewith; flexible connecting means between said rod and armature including a sleeve having one end thereof connected with said armature, a connecting, member attached to said rod and loosely receivable in the other end of said sleeve, means for retaining said connecting member in said sleeve, and resilient means between said connecting member and the internal periphery of said sleeve and between said connecting member and said retaining means to provide limited cushioned movement between said sleeve and connecting member; means normally urging said armature and rod assembly to a downward position in said housing; resilient means in the bottom portion of said housing for cushioning movement of said rod and armature toward the downward position thereof; resilient means mounted on the top portion of said sleeve and adapted to contact an abutting portion of said solenoid for cushioning the upward movement of said assembly; and means mounted on said rod below said connecting member for engaging a portion of an element to be actuated by said assembly.

10. A solenoid device, comprising: a housing; a solenoid structure mounted within said housing including a coil, transformer plates, and an armature adapted to be moved in one direction relative to said plates upon energization of said coil; means in said housing yieldably urging said armature in the opposite direction;

means for limiting movement of said armature in said one direction including abutment means carried by said armature and an abutment surface on the transformer plates engageable by said abutment means, said abutment means including a cushioning and sound deadening element; and means for limiting movement of said armature in said opposite direction including a cushioning and sound deadening element mounted on said housing exteriorly of said solenoid structure, and abutment means carried by said armature and engageable with said lastmentioned element.

11. A solenoid device, comprising: a' solenoid structure including a coil, transformer plates, and an armature extending beyond one end of said coil adapted to be moved in a direction toward said coil upon energization of said coil, said transformer plates having an abutment face adjacent said one end of said coil; and abutment means including a cushioning and sound deadening element attached to said armature and positioned outside of said coil for limiting movement of said armature toward said coil by engagement with said abutment face on said transformer plates and cushioning the shock and deadening the sound resulting from so limiting the movement of said armature.

12. A solenoid device, comprising: a housing; a solenoid structure mounted within said housing including a coil, transformer plates and an armature extending beyond one end of said coil adapted to be moved in a direction toward said coil upon energization of said coil, said transformer plates having an abutment face adjacent said one end of said coil; means carried by said armature including a cushioning and deadening element adapted to cooperate with said abutment face on said transformer plates to limit movement of said armature toward said coil; a spring in said housing yieldably urging said armature in a direction away from said coil upon deenergization of said coil; and means including abutment means carried by said armature and a cushioning and sound deadening element fixedly mounted on said housing for cooperation with said armature-carried abutment means for limiting the movement of said armature by said spring upon deenergization of said coil.

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